Sudan: Internally Displaced Persons

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have made to the government of Sudan or the office of the Wali of Khartoum about the forced relocation of displaced southern families in Khartoum.

Baroness Amos: We have repeatedly made clear to the government of Sudan that all returns and relocations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) must be entirely voluntary and take place in full consultation with the established international monitoring mechanisms.
	This need was highlighted when violence erupted during an attempt to move IDPs from the Soba Aradi camp near Khartoum on 18 May, causing the deaths of three civilians and 14 police officers. On 19 May, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development issued a statement expressing the UK's grave concern. He called on all sides to prevent any further loss of life and urged the government of Sudan to respect the human rights of the IDPs, protect its citizens and bring those responsible to justice. Our Ambassador in Khartoum has also raised the incident with the government of Sudan and pressed them to investigate the incident in consultation with the Joint National Transition Team under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and to take the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence in the future.

Sudan: Internally Displaced Persons

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What development assistance they have given to displaced southern families living in informal settlements in the Khartoum area during 2003 and 2004; in what sectors of development; and through which organisations.

Baroness Amos: During 2003 and 2004 DfID contributed £120,000 to fund the NGO Tearfund's primary healthcare programme for displaced people living in camps around Khartoum.

Sudan: Internally Displaced Persons

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many displaced people from the south live in Khartoum; and what analysis they have made of the number likely to return home in the next two years, or intending to accept rehabilitation grants under the peace agreement.

Baroness Amos: There are up to 2 million displaced people from the south of Sudan living in Khartoum. Following the signature of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on 9 January this year, the United Nations is preparing for around 500,000 people to return to southern Sudan by spring 2006. In total we anticipate that over 50 per cent of the current displaced population around Khartoum will return home in the next two years. There is no information currently available on how many of the returnees intend to claim rehabilitation grants from the Southern Sudan Reconstruction and Development Fund.

Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to phase out the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme; and, if so, when and over what period of time; and
	Whether their consideration of the future of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme will be separate from their approach to the employment in agriculture of asylum seekers and illegal workers; and whether they have produced a policy document that defines the differences in their approaches to each category.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government published their five-year strategy for asylum and immigration on 7 February 2005. This contained a commitment to undertake a review of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS). The review will be undertaken later this year in consultation with key stakeholders in the agricultural sector and will aim to establish whether there is an on-going need for SAWS in light of the use of alternative sources of labour, such as nationals of the new EU accession states. The review will ensure that any approach adopted is consistent with policies on reducing illegal working and on the employment of asylum seekers.

Algeria: Return of Terrorist Suspects

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, before any Algerian citizen who has been detained in the United Kingdom as a terrorist suspect is returned to Algeria, they will require guarantees that such persons will not be tortured; and whether such guarantees will be monitored by an appropriate international authority such as the Special Rapporteur on Torture of the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We will not remove anyone to a country where there is a real risk he or she will be tortured or subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment. Each case is assessed individually, and whether or not assurances should be sought is decided on a case-by-case basis. Where assurances have been obtained they, and any monitoring arrangements, are liable to scrutiny in the course of any appeal against, or other judicial challenge to, the removal decision.

vCJD: UK Cases

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 26 January 2004 (WA 16–18), whether they will update the table, showing all cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) which have been confirmed in the United Kingdom, indicating in each case the date of death, the date of onset of symptoms and the date vCJD was confirmed.

Lord Warner: The information, as supplied by the National CJD Surveillance Unit, Edinburgh, is shown in the following table. It provides information on the 107 definite cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) where the diagnosis has been pathologically confirmed. There are another 49 probable cases of vCJD, including six who are still alive, where neuropathological confirmation is either absent or pending.
	Confirmed cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the United Kingdom as at 26 May 2005 (*)
	
		
			 Date of Death Date of Onset Date Confirmed 
			 May-95 Jun-94 Sep-95 
			 Nov-95 Jan-95 Jan-96 
			 Nov-95 Dec-94 Jan-96 
			 Jan-96 Feb-94 Jan-96 
			 Jan-96 Jul-94 Jan-96 
			 Feb-96 Mar-95 Mar-96 
			 Feb-96 Jan-95 Mar-96 
			 Feb-96 Aug-94 Feb-96 
			 May-96 Aug-95 Mar-96 
			 Jun-96 Jan-95 Apr-96 
			 Jun-96 Jan-94 Jul-96 
			 Sep-96 Jul-95 Sep-96 
			 Feb-97 Dec-95 Jun-97 
			 Feb-97 Dec-94 Jul-97 
			 Mar-97 Oct-95 May-97 
			 Mar-97 Mar-96 Feb-97 
			 May-97 Mar-96 Jun-97 
			 May-97 Mar-94 Sep-95 
			 Jun-97 Jan-96 Jun-97 
			 Jul-97 Nov-96 Oct-97 
			 Oct-97 Oct-96 Nov-97 
			 Dec-97 Jan-96 Sep-96 
			 Jan-98 Feb-97 Mar-98 
			 Mar-98 Sep-95 May-98 
			 Apr-98 Mar-96 Jun-98 
			 May-98 May-96 May-98 
			 Aug-98 Jul-97 Oct-98 
			 Aug-98 Jul-97 Oct-98 
			 Oct-98 Nov-97 Oct-98 
			 Oct-98 May-96 Nov-98 
			 Oct-98 Nov-97 Nov-98 
			 Oct-98 Jul-97 Nov-98 
			 Oct-98 Oct-97 Dec-98 
			 Nov-98 Nov-97 Feb-99 
			 Nov-98 Apr-98 Feb-99 
			 Dec-98 Aug-97 Oct-99 
			 Dec-98 May-98 Feb-99 
			 Dec-98 Dec-97 Mar-99 
			 Jan-99 Feb-98 Feb-99 
			 Feb-99 Dec-97 Sep-99 
			 Feb-99 Oct-97 Jun-99 
			 Feb-99 Dec-97 May-99 
			 May-99 Jan-98 Mar-00 
			 Jul-99 May-98 Jul-99 
			 Aug-99 Jan-99 Aug-99 
			 Aug-99 Jun-98 Nov-99 
			 Sep-99 Dec-96 Sep-99 
			 Oct-99 Jul-98 Dec-99 
			 Oct-99 Mar-99 Sep-00 
			 Oct-99 Jul-98 Jan-00 
			 Nov-99 May-98 Dec-99 
			 Nov-99 Feb-99 Aug-00 
			 Dec-99 Jun-99 May-00 
			 Jan-00 Apr-99 Jan-00 
			 Feb-00 Apr-99 Apr-00 
			 Feb-00 Jun-98 Jun-00 
			 Mar-00 Sep-98 May-00 
			 Mar-00 Sep-98 Apr-00 
			 Mar-00 May-99 Jun-00 
			 Apr-00 May-99 Aug-00 
			 Apr-00 Apr-99 Aug-00 
			 May-00 Apr-99 Jun-00 
			 May-00 Jul-98 Aug-00 
			 Jun-00 Mar-97 Jun-00 
			 Jul-00 Mar-99 Aug-00 
			 Jul-00 Aug-99 Sep-00 
			 Jul-00 Oct-98 Sep-00 
			 Aug-00 Jan-00 Oct-00 
			 Aug-00 Jun-99 Aug-00 
			 Aug-00 Jul-99 Nov-00 
			 Aug-00 Oct-99 Oct-00 
			 Sep-00 Dec-99 Feb-01 
			 Sep-00 Oct-99 Oct-00 
			 Oct-00 Dec-99 Oct-00 
			 Oct-00 Jul-98 Dec-00 
			 Nov-00 Dec-99 Aug-01 
			 Nov-00 Mar-00 Jan-01 
			 Jan-01 Feb-00 Jun-01 
			 Feb-01 Jul-99 May-01 
			 Feb-01 Aug-99 Jul-01 
			 Mar-01 Jan-00 Aug-01 
			 Apr-01 Apr-00 May-01 
			 Apr-01 May-00 Jun-01 
			 Apr-01 Apr-00 Jul-01 
			 May-01 Dec-99 Jun-01 
			 Jun-01 Sep-00 Jun-01 
			 Jul-01 Sep-00 Jul-01 
			 Aug-01 Jan-00 Oct-01 
			 Aug-01 Oct-00 Sep-01 
			 Oct-01 Dec-00 Jun-02 
			 Feb-02 Oct-00 Apr-02 
			 Mar-02 May-01 Oct-02 
			 Apr-02 May-01 Jun-02 
			 Nov-02 Oct-01 Dec-02 
			 Dec-02 May-01 Feb-03 
			 Feb-03 Sep-01 Sep-03 
			 Feb-03 Mar-01 Apr-03 
			 Feb-03 Jan-02 Jun-03 
			 Apr-03 Nov-01 Jun-03 
			 May-03 Jan-02 Apr-03 
			 May-03 Sep-02 Sep-03 
			 Aug-03 Feb-02 Dec-03 
			 Sep-03 Dec-02 Dec-03 
			 Oct-03 Sep-02 Dec-03 
			 Jul-04 Nov-03 Dec-04 
			 Jul-04 May-03 Oct-04 
			 Sep-04 Jan-04 Mar-05 
		
	
	* The information is presented in order of death.

Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the actual, estimated or budgeted amount allocated to each housing market renewal Pathfinder area, and to each local authority within each such area, for each year since the scheme started and for each of the next three years.

Baroness Andrews: The actual funding or allocation ceiling for each Pathfinder area by year for the Housing Market Renewal Fund is set out in the following table.
	Distribution between local authority areas is a matter for the Pathfinder to determine, based on the devised strategy for achieving market renewal in their areas.
	
		
			 Pathfinder Out-turn (£m) (2003–04): Out-turn (£m) (2004–05) Allocation Ceiling (£m) (2005–06) 
			 Urban Living (Birmingham Sandwell) 4.0 13.7 35.2 
			 Elevate (East Lancashire) 4.0 22.8 45.2 
			 Hull & East Riding – 2.6 10.0 
			 Manchester Salford 20 44.0 61.0 
			 Newheartlands (Merseyside) 4.0 34.4 51.7 
			 Bridging Newcastle Gateshead 7.0 28.0 38.0 
			 Renew (North Staffordshire) 4.0 7.0 23.0 
			 Oldham and Rochdale 4.0 17.2 36.4 
			 Transform South Yorkshire 4.0 27.4 43.6 
		
	
	All figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1 million.

Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the actual and estimated number of
	(a) dwellings demolished;
	(b) dwellings renovated;
	(c) houses renovated as two into one;
	(d) new dwellings from conversion of other properties; and
	(e) new dwellings from new build,
	for each housing market renewal Pathfinder area and for each local authority within each Pathfinder area, for each year since the scheme started and for each of the next three years.

Baroness Andrews: The table below provides information on actual and estimated outputs for demolitions, refurbishments and new builds and is broken down by Pathfinder area. Information by local authority area is not collected centrally, nor is information on the number of houses renovated as two into one and the number of new dwellings from conversion of other properties.
	The table shows that demolition is only part of a package of measures within the housing market renewal programme, which includes substantial refurbishment.
	
		
			  Demolitions  Refurbished  New Build 
			  a  b  e 
			 Pathfinder Actual* Estimated* Actual* Estimated* Actual* Estimated* 
			 Manchester Salford 214 1,700 1,463 13,400 0 1,000 
			 South Yorkshire 824 1,600 7 2,000 0 112 
			 East Lancashire 141 790 57 1,100 0 131 
			 Oldham Rochdale 0 300 7 350 0 0 
			 Merseyside 12 2,700 42 300 0 1,600 
			 Newcastle Gateshead 190 2,000 293 2,000 4 100 
			 Hull and East Riding 0 44 0 0 0 0 
			 North Staffordshire 2 100 46 300 0 0 
			 Birmingham Sandwell 57 590 9 1,600 0 150 
			 TOTAL 1,440 9,824 1,924 21,050 4 3,093 
		
	
	* Actual figures are latest figures up to September 2004. Estimated figures are up to 31 March 2006. Figures relate to outputs funded by housing market renewal funding only.

Hybrid Bill Procedures

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they will take to ensure that the parliamentary hybrid Bill procedure complies with European Union Directive 2003/35/EC.

Baroness Andrews: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not planning to recommend changes to parliamentary hybrid Bill procedures. Standing Order 27A of Private Business, to which hybrid Bills are subject, already requires the deposit of an environmental statement in accordance with Schedule 4 to the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999, and we are satisfied that hybrid Bills will be handled so that they meet all the objectives of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (85/337/EEC as amended by 97/11/EC and 2003/35/EC).

London Boroughs: Private Residential Developments

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what dates each of London's boroughs adopted a policy of securing planning gain from new private residential developments.

Baroness Andrews: Information is not held centrally on the timing of adoption of planning obligations policies in London borough plans and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

London Boroughs: Private Residential Developments

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether local authorities can require planning gain as a condition of planning approval for properties for market sale to be built on sites acquired by English Partnerships under its London-wide initiative.

Baroness Andrews: Local planning authorities can seek to enter into planning obligations under the provisions of Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as revised by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991. It is for the local planning authorities to decide if it would be appropriate to negotiate planning obligations for the sites acquired for the London-wide initiative.

London Boroughs: Private Residential Developments

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which sites were acquired by English Partnerships under its London-wide initiative; and how many dwellings and affordable homes have been built or are planned to be built on each site.

Baroness Andrews: English Partnerships has acquired 15 sites for the London-wide initiative and provided one site it already owned at East India Dock Road, Tower Hamlets.
	The sites acquired are located at:
	London Road, Croydon
	Holloway Road, Islington
	Amelia Street, Southwark
	Newington Butts, Southwark
	Lymington Fields, Barking and Dagenham
	Rowan High-School, Merton
	Brenley Site, Merton
	Catford Greyhound stadium and rail site, Lewisham
	Wandsworth Southside, Wandsworth
	Adelaide Wharf, Hackney
	District Hospital, Greenwich
	Huntley Street, Camden
	Blackhorse Road, Walthamstow
	Trenchard House, Westminster
	West Middlesex Hospital, Hounslow
	The Mayor of London has also pledged to transfer the Gallions 2 site in Docklands to the initiative. This site is expected to deliver around 300 new homes.
	This pilot phase of the initiative is expected to deliver about 4,500 homes, 2,000 of which will be affordable homes for sale to key workers and first time buyers. Work is continuing with partners and the relevant local authorities on the total number and mix of units on each site and to bring them forward for development. Development is expected to commence on the first site later this year.

Carers

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What allowances a full-time carer of working age, with a severely disabled adult dependant, is entitled to claim, including income support; and whether these allowances provide the carer and the dependant with a reasonable standard of living.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Carers and severely disabled adults have access to the full range of social security benefits: carer's allowance, incapacity benefit, jobseeker's allowance, income support, disability living allowance, attendance allowance, industrial injuries benefits, bereavement and widow's benefits, maternity allowance, state pension and state second pension, pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit, which are dependent upon their individual circumstances. They may also have access to payments under the tax credits and war pensions schemes, and to statutory sick pay, statutory maternity pay or statutory paternity pay.
	A carer's allowance, currently £45.70 per week, can be paid to a carer whose weekly earnings, net of allowable expenses, are £82 or less and who regularly provides care for at least 35 hours a week to a severely disabled person in receipt of attendance allowance or the middle or highest rate of the disability living allowance care component. Extra money can be paid with carer's allowance for a partner whose net earnings are no more than £27.30 per week.
	Carers and the disabled people they care for may also be entitled to income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or pension credit. These entitlements are assessed separately unless they are partners living in the same household, in which case they are subject to a joint assessment. In either circumstance, the assessment can include a carer premium (carer's additional amount in the case of pension credit) on account of the carer's entitlement to carer's allowance, and one or more disability premia (disability additional amount in the case of pension credit) on account of the disabled person's eligibility for attendance allowance or disability living allowance. Receipt of attendance allowance or disability living allowance is ignored in the assessment of entitlement to income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or pension credit. The maximum levels of housing benefit and council tax benefit are available to recipients of income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or pension credit who are liable to pay rent or council tax.
	Overall, households which include a carer and/or a severely disabled person can receive significantly more benefit than other households receiving income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or pension credit. These benefits are set at levels which ensure that recipients should be able to meet their normal daily living needs. To protect their purchasing power, they are increased each year in line with the movement in the general level of prices or, in the case of the pension credit guarantee credit, in line with earnings up to and including 2007–08. The higher levels at which the benefits may be paid to carers, and to those for whom they provide care, are part of the package of support available to severely disabled people and their carers. Further help, including means-tested domiciliary services or direct payments in lieu of such services, may be available from local authority social services departments.

Pension Protection Fund

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is possible for the Pension Protection Fund to take an equity stake in a company whose pension liabilities it assumes; if so, what is the legal basis for that power; and whether any restrictions on this power exist

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The board of the Pension Protection Fund may invest for the purposes of the prudent management of its financial affairs, as provided by Section 113 of the Pensions Act 2004. While the Board is obliged by Section 114 of the Act to produce a statement of principles governing determinations about investments made by or on behalf of the board, it is for the board to determine what those governing principles should be. There are no statutory limits or restrictions on the board's power to determine its own investment policy.
	When the board of the Pension Protection Fund assumes responsibility for a pension scheme the property, rights and liabilities of the scheme are transferred to the Board. This is made clear in Section 161 and Schedule 6 to the Pensions Act 2004.
	If the board assumes responsibility for a pension scheme the assets of which include an equity stake in the company which used to be its sponsoring employer, then this equity stake would transfer to the board of the Pension Protection Fund.
	During a PPF assessment period, while the PPF is assessing whether it must assume responsibility for a scheme, the board of the Pension Protection Fund takes over the role of creditor of the employer on behalf of the trustees of the scheme. This is a power the board has under Section 137 of the Pensions Act 2004. During this time the board may be involved in negotiations with the employer in respect of the debt owed to the scheme. As part of these negotiations the board may agree that the scheme make take an equity stake in the employer's business.

Nuclear Warheads

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many non-United Kingdom-owned nuclear warheads are located within the United Kingdom.

Lord Drayson: As stated in NATO's Strategic Concept (paragraph 63):
	"nuclear forces based in Europe and committed to NATO provide an essential political and military link between the European and North American members of the alliance. The alliance will therefore maintain adequate nuclear forces in Europe."
	Numbers of US nuclear weapons in the UK can and do vary, and the capability for deployments of such weapons to and from the UK remains extant regardless of the particular number of weapons in the UK at any given time.
	It is NATO and national policy not to comment on the detail of such nuclear deployments.

NATO: Force Capability

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made by NATO in establishing a single adaptable database of military forces available from member states for the purpose of force generation, as agreed at the Istanbul Conference.

Lord Drayson: At the Istanbul Summit in 2004, it was agreed that changes should be made to NATO's defence planning and force generation processes, with the intention of linking political agreement to launch an operation to the provision of forces required to carry it out. One aspect of this was agreement that, subject to further clarification and development, defence planning questionnaire data should be requested in a common or compatible database. This work is subject to the wider review that is being conducted as a result of the Istanbul-mandated comprehensive political guidance for all alliance capabilities issues and planning decisions.

Helicopters

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the arrangements for advice about further helicopter capabilities for the Armed Forces will avoid any conflicts of interest and be conducive to open competition and best value.

Lord Drayson: Competition and the pursuit of value for money remain the cornerstones of our procurement policy. This applies to our future rotorcraft capability requirements, as elsewhere. For helicopters in particular we are aiming to provide significant efficiency and effectiveness improvements in how we support our helicopter fleet. To this end the department has agreed a heads of agreement with Agusta Westland which commits us to exploring the possibility of working together towards a long-term partnering and business transformation arrangement. The terms of any such partnering arrangement are still being negotiated, but will be consistent with our procurement policy in terms of avoiding conflicts of interest and pursuing value for money.

Army Restructuring: 1 (UK) Armoured Division

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total number of personnel and vehicles on the current war establishment of 1 (UK) Armoured Division; and what the total will be once the future Army structure has been fully implemented.

Lord Drayson: The current numbers of personnel and vehicles on the war fighting establishment of the lst (United Kingdom) Armoured Division are: manpower 23,154 and vehicles 7,123. These numbers take into account early changes under future Army structures work. There will, however, be further changes and the final figures have yet to be settled.

Royal Air Force Centrifuge

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 7 April (WA 147), whether the announcement by Environmental Tectonics Corporation (ETC) made in the United States on 8 February that the company had resolved its dispute in relation to contract number AESIA/279 with a payment of £2.5 million by the Ministry of Defence is correct; and whether this represents the resolution of the dispute to which reference is made in the Answer.

Lord Drayson: The statement by ETC that a dispute in relation to contract number AESIA/279 had been resolved was correct. A payment of £2.5 million was made by the MoD to ETC in full and final settlement of the legal dispute and covered additional work on the contract that supplied Integrated Avionics Maintenance Trainers (IAMT) to the Royal Air Force in 2002.

Young Mothers: Physical Activity

Lord Pendry: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they collect statistics on how many young mothers participate in physical activity; and, if so, whether they will publish those statistics.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Health Survey for England 2002, which focused specifically on children and young people aged 16 to 24, showed that only 22 per cent of young mothers (aged 16 to 24) met the Department of Health Chief Medical Officer's recommendations (participation in at least 30 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity on five or more days a week) compared to 29 per cent of females of the same range who are not mothers. This difference is statistically significant.
	It also measured those who took less than 30 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity once a week. This showed that young mothers were more likely to be sedentary than those of a similar age range who are not mothers, at 30 per cent and 36 per cent respectively. This difference is also statistically significant.

Young Mothers: Physical Activity

Lord Pendry: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are taking action to increase the number of young mothers participating in physical activities.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The government-funded Local Exercise Action Pilot (LEAP), based in the five most deprived wards in Hastings, is testing interventions to increase the number of young mothers aged 16 to 25 participating in physical activity. An interim evaluation of the scheme will be completed by mid-June 2005.

Sport: Equality

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that equality of opportunity between men and women currently exists in school sport, community sport and high performance sport. [HL171 ]
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government are committed to promoting equality of opportunity in sport for men and women and are implementing a range of measures.
	In schools, the National Strategy for PE and School Sport is reaching out to all pupils and the target is to ensure that 85 per cent of five to 16 year-olds doing at least two hours' high-quality PE and school sport each week by 2008. At local level, we expect school sport partnerships to make provision for targeting girls, where that is necessary, by broadening opportunities and tailoring delivery to girls' needs.
	To date, more than 1,200 secondary schools have benefited from the Youth Sport Trust/Nike Girls in Sport initiative. This seeks to encourage greater participation by girls through changing or relaxing kit specifications, extending the range of activities and improving showers and changing rooms. All schools in school sport partnerships are encouraged to adopt these principles.
	For community sport, we know that participation in sport and physical activity by women is lower than for the population as a whole. For example, the General Household Survey 2004 reported that during 2002 36 per cent of women had taken part in at least one activity other than walking, four weeks prior to being interviewed. This compared with 51 per cent of men.
	We have a specific PSA target to increase participation within priority groups, including women, by 3 per cent by 2008. We are tackling access issues for women through various initiatives. An example is the Horton Grange project in Bradford (supported by the Sport Action Zone). This is aimed at increasing opportunities for Asian women with health and weight problems to participate in sport and physical activity and get advice on healthy lifestyle choices.
	The Equality Standard for Sport, launched last year, is a framework to guide sports and community organisations towards achieving equality. Its aim is to widen access and increase the participation and involvement in sport and physical activity from under-represented individuals, groups and communities.
	With regard to elite sport, UK Sport has co-ordinated the development of the UK Strategy Framework for Women and Sport, its main principle being to "change sporting culture in the UK to one that values the diversity of women and enables their full involvement in every aspect of sport". The framework will cover participation, performance and excellence, as well as leadership issues for women within sport.
	In terms of athlete numbers, the latest figures show that (as at 24 May 2005) 40 per cent of athletes on the UK World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) are women. However, it is important to acknowledge that athletes are selected for inclusion on the WCPP on performance grounds alone, with the same standards applying to male and female athletes.

Child Seats

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Department for Transport's New Programme for Assessing Child Seats report will be published; and whether they will provide an update of work undertaken to date, including a summary of findings and the cost to the department.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The programme started in September 2003 and is due to finish in January 2006. We aim to publish the report in February 2006. The work has established appropriate test methods for the assessment of usability and misuse, dynamic crash performance (in both frontal and side impacts) and durability of child seats. Research into the latest child seat designs and trends from field accident databases has been used as a check on their relevance. These protocols will be used to develop a well founded and effective consumer information programme. The cost to the Department for Transport has so far been £182,000 of a budget of £450,000.

Lord Birt

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 24 March (WA 64), whether the Prime Minister's strategy adviser, the Lord Birt, was consulted prior to the announcement on 16 March that Mr Rod Eddington was to become a government adviser on transport policy from September 2005. [HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Prime Minister is fully supportive of Rod Eddington's appointment. It is important that we take a long-term look at the impact of transport on productivity, stability and growth in this country, and Rod Eddington will make a valuable contribution to this work.

Public Libraries

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much money has been invested in public lending library capital projects over the past five years.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Public Library Statistics (Actuals) show capital expenditure by the English Library Authorities for the five years up to 2003–04 was:
	
		
			  (£000) 
			 1999–2000 30,887 
			 2000–01 28,369 
			 2001–02 48,134 
			 2002–03 53,255 
			 2003–04 33,124 
		
	
	Figures for the subsequent year are not yet available.

Public Libraries

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What they are doing to encourage local authorities to replace and refurbish public lending libraries.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Framework for the Future, the first ever national public libraries strategy document, published in 2003, called for library services to be offered in premises fit for purpose and there have been many fine examples of new or refurbished library buildings in recent years. The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), one of DCMS's non-departmental public bodies, has also highlighted the benefits of good library design through two excellent reports, Better Public Libraries and 21st Century Libraries: Changing Forms, Changing Futures.
	These reports show that high quality building design can help libraries meet the challenge of providing services to 21st century citizens and communities. Peckham Library, the Idea Store in Bow, and Bournemouth library (winner of the 2003 Prime Minister's Better Public Building Award) are all examples of how modern libraries are changing, reinventing themselves to become beacons for civic pride, as well as social and economic regeneration.
	DCMS has allocated £90 million of PFI credits to library projects to date; and bids are currently being considered for a share of the £130 million in credits that we are making available over the next two years. Public libraries are one of the priority areas for these bids.
	Nevertheless, ultimately, the replacement and refurbishment of public library buildings is a matter for library authorities.

Road Surfaces

Lord Moran: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made in the past 12 months in providing quiet road surfaces on motorways and major roads; and what plans there are for the laying down of new quiet road surfaces in the next 12 months

Lord Davies of Oldham: In 2004–05 the Highways Agency installed a total of 1,189 lane km of quieter surfacing, including 117.2 lane km of quieter surfacing installed on concrete roads.
	In 2005–06 the Highways Agency plans to install a total of 1,000 lane km of quieter surfacing, including 200 lane km of quieter surfacing to be installed on concrete roads.

Crossrail Bill

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Crossrail Bill process and consultation complies with European Union Directive 2003/35/EC.

Lord Davies of Oldham: I refer my noble friend to my answer of 26 May 2005 (Official Report, col. WA 24).

Airlines: Passports

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Under what powers airlines can require passengers on domestic flights to produce passports.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Secretary of State for Transport, in exercise of his powers under the Aviation Security Act 1982, has directed aircraft operators to take all reasonable steps to ensure that each passenger boarding an aircraft, who is recorded as having placed hold baggage in the custody of the operator, is in fact that same person who surrendered that baggage. Some aircraft operators have chosen to meet this requirement by including in their conditions of carriage the need for photographic identification to be produced, which may include a passport.

Government Departments: Senior Information Risk Owners

Lord Harris of Haringey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who are the senior information risk owners in each government department.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Senior information risk owners have been appointed in the following government departments:
	Cabinet Office: Colin Balmer;
	Crown Prosecution Office: Claire Hamon;
	Department for Constitutional Affairs: Dominic Hartley;
	Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Nicholas Holgate;
	Department for Education and Skills: Colin Moore;
	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Donald Macrae;
	Department for International Development: Mark Lowcock;
	Department for Transport: Stephen Hickey;
	Department for Work and Pensions: Joe Harley;
	Department of Health: Hugh Taylor;
	Department of Trade and Industry: Yvonne Gallagher;
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Roger Kershaw;
	HM Revenue and Customs: Carol Piper;
	HM Treasury: Tamara Finkelstein;
	Home Office: Helen Kilpatrick;
	Ministry of Defence: John Taylor;
	National Assembly for Wales: Bryan Mitchell;
	Northern Ireland Civil Service: Bill McCluggage;
	Northern Ireland Office: Paul Priestly;
	Office for National Statistics: Hilary Douglas;
	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Sarah Cox;
	Parliamentary Counsel Office: Stephen Laws;
	Scottish Executive: Paul Rhodes;
	Treasury Solicitor's Department: Hilary Jackson;
	UK Trade & Investment: Paul Madden.
	SIRO's have also been appointed in the Security Service, SIS and GCHQ.

Pensions

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 18 May (HL Deb, col. 105) about pension holidays, what is the total estimated value of pension holidays taken by employers in each of the 10 years ending 1996–97.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Estimates of the total amount of reduction of surplus and the method of reduction between 1987–88 and 1996–97 are published in table 7.9 of Inland Revenue Statistics 1997, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

EU Budget

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a reconfiguration of European Union budget contributions and receipts for member states can be constructed on a fair basis for all members without impairing the British rebate.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Negotiations on the next financial perspective, which will set the EC budget and policy framework for the period 2007 to 2013, are ongoing. Her Majesty's Government have set out their views on how large the EC budget needs to be and how it can be financed. The UK abatement remains fully justified and is not up for negotiation due to inequities on the expenditure side of the budget. These inequities lead to member states of similar wealth to the UK paying a far lower net contribution because of the level of receipts they get back from the EC budget.

Sports Facilities: VAT

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the current VAT liabilities concerning education-based sports facilities.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The construction of sports facilities at schools, universities and other educational establishments is normally subject to the standard (17.5 per cent) rate of VAT. VAT zero-rating does apply to the construction of a new sports building intended for use solely by charitable educational establishments unless it is used in the "course or furtherance of business".
	The provision of sports facilities to an individual for a charge is exempt from VAT when supplied by a non-profit making body. The letting of a sports facility, to clubs or associations may, in certain circumstances, also be exempt from VAT. Otherwise, VAT is chargeable at the standard rate on the provision of sports facilities for a charge.

McKinsey and Co.

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether McKinsey and Company is currently carrying out any work for HM Treasury; how many projects the firm has carried out for the Treasury during each of the past five years; for each project, how long it lasted and how many McKinsey employees were involved; and what was the total value of payments made by the Treasury to McKinsey and Company in each of the past five years.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: McKinsey and Company is not currently carrying out any work for the Treasury and has not done so since 2001–02. McKinsey carried out five projects for the Treasury over the years 1999–2000 to 2001–02. The fees paid in the past five financial years are set out in the table below and represent five projects. Information on the duration of each project and the number of McKinsey employees involved is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Financial year Fees paid in year, including VAT £ 
			 2000–01 30,269.18 
			 2001–02 90,850.04 
			 2002–03 Nil 
			 2003–04 Nil 
			 2004–05 Nil